Therapeutic concentration of ciprofloxacin and transfer across the human term placenta

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

Background: Pregnant women have an increased risk of infections, and early and decisive treatment is preferred to prevent complications. Although ciprofloxacin is very commonly used, safety aspects of maternal treatment during pregnancy are limited, and avoidance of its use during late pregnancy is recommended. Objective: The aim is to estimate maternal-to-fetal transfer clearance of ciprofloxacin at a therapeutic concentration and to determine fetal exposure to maternally administered ciprofloxacin. Study Design: Transplacental pharmacokinetics were determined with an ex vivo placental model, which is a reliable experimental model for estimating fetal drug exposure. Human placentas from uncomplicated term pregnancies were collected after delivery and a suitable cotyledon was cannulated. Ciprofloxacin was added at a therapeutic concentration (1.6 μg/mL) to the maternal compartment, and antipyrine was included as a reference drug (10.0 μg/mL). Samples were collected from the maternal and fetal compartment at 12 time points (−2 to 180 minutes), and the integrity and metabolic parameters were measured consecutively. Drug concentrations were determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: A total of 5 human placentas from healthy term pregnancies were collected after delivery and cannulated with success. Ciprofloxacin crossed the placenta; its mean concentration in the fetal compartment was 0.3 μg/mL, accounting for 22% (0.29/1.30; range, 15%–31%) of the maternal concentration after 3 hours. The fetal/maternal ciprofloxacin concentration ratio increased gradually over time and reached 0.53. The transfer clearance for ciprofloxacin was 0.28 mL/min (range, 0.21–0.41 mL/min) during the first hour and 0.21 mL/min (range, 0.14–0.26 mL/min) during the following 2 hours. After end perfusion, the mean tissue concentration and proportion of ciprofloxacin were 0.7 μg/g and 11% (14/130; range, 7%–14%), respectively. Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin crossed the placenta at a slow, constant rate, indicating moderate fetal exposure. This study verifies an accumulation of ciprofloxacin in the placenta that may lengthen the duration of fetal exposure. These results are an essential element of fetal risk assessment, but further studies are needed to estimate fetal safety.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Vol/bind225
Udgave nummer6
Sider (fra-til)670.e1-670.e9
Antal sider9
ISSN0002-9378
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the P. Carl Petersens’s Fund.

Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the P. Carl Petersens's Fund.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.

ID: 274842687